May 2018 Paint-Outs

Hi painters,

April was an iffy month weather-wise.  I don't think many people made it out to paint.  Maybe May will be better....

May 2018 Schedule:

Monday, April 30 and Tuesday May 1 - Davis Creek Park

Monday May 7 and Tuesday May 8 - Sand Harbor (if the Boat Launch parking is open, meet there.  Otherwise, park at the main parking for the park

Monday May 14 and Tuesday May 15 - Huffaker Hills Trailhead, Reno.  From Longley Lane one block from McCarran Boulevard, take Alexander Lake Road to trailhead parking. 
Link:  http://www.newtoreno.com/huffaker-hills-trail-reno-nevada.htm

Monday May 21 and Tuesday May 22 - Tahoe Keys (see previous years posts for directions)

Monday May 28 (Memorial Day) and Tuesday May 29 - Tahoe Meadows (see previous posts for directions)  P.S.  you may want to avoid Memorial Day - it is up to you....

Note:  May can be a muddy month with snow melt at Tahoe Meadows, be prepared with appropriate boots....

April 2018 paint-outs

Happy Spring!

Hi painters, sorry I am so late in setting paint-outs....my computer crashed and I just got a new one....starting over takes time....

2018

Monday, April 2 and Tuesday April 3:  Galena Regional Park, Mt. Rose Hwy, at 10:00 am

Monday, April 9 and Tuesday April 10:  Rancho San Rafael Arboretum, Reno at 10:00 am

Monday, April 16 and Tuesday April 17:  River Fork Ranch Regional Park, Genoa, at 10:00 am

Monday April 23 and Tuesday April 24:  Evans Creek NatureTrail, Reno at 10:00 am

Monday April 30 and Tuesday May 1:  Davis Creek Regional Park, Washoe Valley, at the pond at 10:00 am

For directions, click at the top of the blog page in the search box and type in the park or trail you wish to see previous posts that include directions.

I hope to see you one of those days!

Happy Painting,
Carolyn

February 2018 Paint-Out Schedule

Hi painters,

We are going to try something new - two paint-outs a week (same location) for Mondays and Tuesdays.  We believe there are enough painters that would attend either one.  For the real serious ones, going back to finish at the same location the next day might be advantageous (weather permitting of course).

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 AND 6, 2018:

Sun Valley Regional Park, Sparks
10:00 am if not too cold.  11:00 if you want to wait a bit

Directions: 
From the spagetti bowl (I-80 and 395):

• Go north on 395
• Take the 2nd exit - Clearacre Lane (exit 70B)
• Go north-east on Clearacre Lane
• It changes name  to NV 443 and also to Sun Valley Blvd which is now heading north
• Turn Left on 7th Avenue
• First Right turn onto Sidehill
• Go to the end.  Bennett Elementary School is on the right, and the entrance to the park is on the left
• Note:  you will pass through a run-down area, but the ranger tells me the park is very safe.  The people I saw there had nice cars and trucks and I felt completely safe

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 AND 13, 2018:

Riverfork Ranch, Genoa
10:00 (or 11:00 if very cold)
River Fork Ranch is located at 381 Genoa Lane, Minden, NV 89423 near the historic town of Genoa in the Carson Valley.
Directions from Carson City:  Drive south on 395 for 8.7 miles
Turn Right onto SR 206/Genoa Lane and continue for 2.4 miles
The preserve and parking area will be on your left and is well marked with a sign.

More info: River Fork Ranch: 
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/nevada/placesweprotect/river-fork-ranch.xml
Visit nature.org/nevadaarthttp://nature.org/nevadaart



MONDAY AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 AND 20, 2018:

Washoe Lake - North entrance - dunes view
10:00 (or 11:00 if very cold)


Directions:
From Reno Downtown 80/395/580:  Take 580 south, Exit 47B for old 395 South/Virginia Street.  Continue on old 395 going south (Virginia Street) (don't go to Virginia City)about 6.8 miles.  At the top of a hill, get in the left-turning lane.  Turn Left on East Lake Boulevard.  Go about 2.1 miles and turn right on Lakeshore Drive.  If you miss this turn, just turn at any other street and it will take you the same road - Lakeshore Drive - which follows the edge of the lake.  Continue about 1.8 miles until you see the sign (pictured above) and turn right.  Go to the end and meet in the parking lot.

Links:  http://parks.nv.gov/parks/washoe-lake-state-park/

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 AND 27, 2018:

Carson River Park, Carson City
Address: 5013 Carson River Rd, Carson City, NV 89701
10:00 (or 11:00 if very cold)
http://carson.org/government/departments-g-z/parks-recreation-open-space/parks-and-open-space/neighborhood-parks/carson-river-park

January 2018 Paint-Out Schedule

As always, if weather permits.....

Date:     Monday, January 1, 2018
Time:     11:00
Place:     Washoe Lake Wetlands
 - at the very south end of Washoe Lake
Parking:      Free and plenty of parking

Directions:

From Reno, take I-580 South toward Carson City

Exit 44/Eastlake Boulevard

Left on Eastlake Boulevard

Go about 1.4 miles

As you go around a bend, a parking lot will appear on the left - turn left (it is easy to pass it up by mistake)

Link:  http://renotahoe.about.com/od/NevadaStateParks/ss/Tour-Of-Washoe-Lake-State-Park_7.htm

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Date:    Tuesday, January 9, 2018
Time:    11:00
Place:     Sand Harbor Boat Launch Parkinglot
Be aware they say the fee is year-round

Directions:  From Reno, take Mt Rose Hwy (431) to Incline

Left on Country Club Drive

Left on Lakeshore Blvd.  Go about 2 miles

Right into Sand Harbor Boat Launch parking lot

*


Date:    Tuesday, January 16
Time:    11:00
Place:    Hope Valley at Pickett Junction
(intersection of 88 and 89 after you pass Sorensens

Note:  No cell service.  Food, drink and bathroom at Sorensens and Hope Valley Cafe
Directions from Reno:  Take 395 (580) South to Minden, turn right on Highway 88, pass Sorensens, turn right at the junction of 89 and park on side.  Approximately 1 hour 15 min. to Pickett's Junction from central Reno.
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Date:    Tuesday, January 23
Time:    11:00
Place:    Silver Saddle Ranch
Directions:    
From Reno, take 580 south
Take exit 38 for Fairview Drive, keep in left lane
Turn Left at the light onto Fairview Drive
At the round-about, take 1st exit onto East 5th Street
Turn Right on Carson River Road
Follow Carson River Road for 1.4 miles to the entrance at a bend in the road.
Picture above shows their sign on Carson River Road
Follow their gravel ranch road .6 miles to the parking area near the hay barn and ranch buildings.

Links, pictures and trail maps:  
Friends of Silver Saddle Ranch  http://fossr.org/

Silver Saddle Ranch  http://www.silversaddleranch.info/ssr-carson-about.htm

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_programs/recreation/silver_saddle.html

Tips for painting outdoors in winter in snow country

January is here!  If the weather permits, and you dress warmly, paint-outs in January can be special.

Here are some tips for painting in snow country:

• If there is snow and it is a sunny day ---- don't go snow-blind!!!!  It may alter your color sense, but do wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.  Peak now and then to check your colors and values.
• Get a large board and place it behind your art panel to screen out the light coming around edges
• Bring a black trash bag, an old blanket or tarp and place it in front of your easel so you don't get bounced light from the ground up into your eyes while you paint.
• sorry - watercolor painting and acrylic painting may freeze.... try another medium, take photos or sketch
• Wool socks, turtlenecks, wool sweater, fingerless gloves, wool hats, thermal underwear, handwarmer pouches, a thermos of hot drink, parka or wind-breaking jacket, heavy waterproof boots.... if you think you need them, bring them!
• Oil painters - keep your tubes in the house the night before instead of your car.  Unstick any stubborn tube tops before you leave home.  Oil paints can get cold and hard to get out of the tube and also hard to paint with.  Medium helps to make paint spread easier when cold.
• If you like to combine snowshoeing with your painting excursion, you can pull a plastic sled with you with your gear on it.  If you set up in soft snow, your tripod will sink down in the snow and might be too low.  The sled can also act as a support for your tripod and you stand in your snowshoes.
• Painting snow:  Snow has colors in it.  Note the best snow paintings you have seen - if you held a white piece of paper up to the painting - you would find the snow was not painted with pure white out of the tube!  Another tip is to have both warm and cool colors in your snow - the warm colors will be where the sun has lit the snow, and the cool is where it falls away and is in shadow.

Happy Holidays to All Painters!

To all artists,

May you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Happy Painting,
Carolyn Jean Thompson

Tuesday December 12, 2017 Paint-Out South End of Little Washoe Lake

Let's Paint the South End of Little Washoe Lake!

Date:  TUESDAY, December 12, 2017
Time:  10:00 am
Location:  Little Washoe Lake - go past the pay hut, go straight down hill, keep going straight on dirt road at the end of the parking lot for the beach, continue around Little Washoe Lake taking the bends to the right.  Pull off where you want to paint or go the end where the dirt parking is and the bathroom (it is open)

Directions to Little Washoe Lake:  From Virginia Street/Mount Rose Highway intersection, take 395 south about 6 miles.  After you pass through Pleasant Valley you will go up a hill (Washoe Hill).  At the top, turn left on East Lake Boulevard.  Almost immediately you will cross a cattle guard and then turn right into the park entrance.  There is an entrance fee year-round, but you can take your chances.  See above for how to go to the south end.   

It is slightly muddy-slick in some areas near the water.  Today I visited (Dec 6) and took these pictures.  A large herd of wild horses came down to drink at the lake.